'Astounding!' - Remco Evenepoel makes Tadej Pogacar look mortal with outrageous time trial catch at Road World Championships in Rwanda
Published 21/09/2025 at 17:08 GMT+1
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Remco Evenepoel didn’t just win another world title - he humbled Tadej Pogacar in Kigali. Starting two-and-a-half minutes behind, the Belgian sensation hunted down cycling's biggest superstar in a surreal catch that left the TNT Sports commentary box aghast. On his 27th birthday, Pogacar was reduced to chasing the podium while Evenepoel stormed to a historic third straight ITT rainbow jersey.
'Press record!' - Evenepoel does the unthinkable and catches Pogacar in time trial
Video credit: TNT Sports
"Pogacar is not just on the ropes, he is stumbling here. And Evenepoel can knock him to the canvas with a few more pedal strokes."
The unthinkable unfolded at the UCI Road World Championships on Sunday as Remco Evenepoel not only defended his time trial crown but produced one of the most jaw-dropping moments the discipline has ever seen - catching Tadej Pogacar despite starting two-and-a-half minutes behind him.
The individual time trial had been billed as a blockbuster duel between two of cycling’s greatest one-day riders. In Kigali's searing heat and over a brutal course in the Rwandan capital, Pogacar was meant to be the man to finally push Evenepoel to the brink in his quest for a third consecutive rainbow jersey.
Instead, the hype collapsed before the first checkpoint. Evenepoel was already a minute clear of the rest of the field, while Pogacar - on his 27th birthday - was scrapping just to keep his medal hopes alive. The storyline was no longer about who could win gold, but whether cycling fans were about to witness the impossible: Pogacar, the modern-day phenomenon, being reeled in.
"Could you imagine that?" gasped Rob Hatch on TNT Sports commentary as the gap continued to increase at the second time check.
By the time the late cobbled ramps loomed, Evenepoel had Pogacar firmly in his sights. And then came the overtake - a surreal image destined to be replayed for years.
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Gold medalist Remco Evenepoel of Team Belgium celebrates winning during the medal ceremony after the 98th UCI Cycling World Championships Kigali 2025 - Men Elite Individual Time Trial a 40.6km race from Kigali to Kigali on September 21, 2025 in Kigali, Rwanda. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
Image credit: Getty Images
"Press record, look at this moment. Keep it for prosperity," Hatch cried. "This is Tadej Pogacar, the modern GOAT, caught by his two-and-a-half-minute man.
"Today all the talk on his 27th birthday was that Pogacar could possibly do this on a parcours that suited him. But Remco Evenepoel has turned up and has completely obliterated Pogi. This is a humbling defeat for Tadej Pogacar.
"When that image flashed up, I think collectively around the world lots of you will have been saying words towards your television that I can't repeat. It was that astounding."
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At the line, Evenepoel was untouchable. He demolished the course to win by over a minute from Australian Jay Vine, with Pogacar left in fourth - agonisingly a single second behind Ilan Van Wilder, Evenepoel's compatriot.
From Glasgow to Zurich to Kigali, Evenepoel has written himself into history. His third straight ITT world title puts him in rare company, joining Michael Rogers (2003-2005) and Tony Martin (2011-2013) as the only male riders to achieve the feat.
On being caught, Pogacar could only offer admiration. "I’m disappointed Remco caught me, but he's so fast, it's incredible how good he is in the discipline. Chapeau really, what a ride by him."
Evenepoel and Pogacar will face off again in the road race on September 28.
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Stream the UCI Road World Championships live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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